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I was out flying instrument currency when
the cockpit got a little busy and I had a hard time trimming on approach, but
then it settled down. Figured I was just a bit rusty. A few days
later I took off and the plane insisted on climbing, would not level off, and I
had to strong-arm the nose down until I could finally trim it level. No
problems after that. Checked trim on the ground and it seemed fine.
Same thing happened again a couple weeks later and I reached over to the
copilot's stick where eventually I got it trimmed. Testing in the hanger
where runaway is less critical to correct, I found that I could always get
nose-up to run but nose-down was erratic, working fine at times and inoperative
at times. Avionics Systems in Leesburg VA confirmed that the nose-down
relay activated by the China hat switches had gone walkabout.
I replaced the relay but got concerned:
the relay had failed "open", but had it failed "closed" I would have had an even
more eventful time controlling the plane. Thanks to someone on the LML or
Lancair_ES group I had just read of a trim interrupt that would allow an on-time
of 3 sec max. If the switch would freeze in the "on" condition I
would have a trim problem that might be unpleasant but it would not be life
threatening. So this week I am installing the Safety-Trim Intelligent
Servo Controller (see http://www.steinair.com/trim.htm).
On the other hand, I'll miss the gym-style
workout on my left arm!
Robert M. Simon
ES-P
N301ES
614.538.8000
USTEK Incorporated
4663 Executive Drive
#3
Columbus, OH 43220-3627
U.S.A.
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